Having spent 50 years as a preacher, it should come as no surprise that I turn to characters and events in biblical history to better understand and interpret current events. That is certainly the case as I think about the recent election that returns Donald Trump to the White House.
Perhaps, some voters were intrigued by the notion that Trump would provide economic relief to those whose lives were dramatically impacted by the economic downturn that occurred in this country because of COVID-19. Perhaps, they embraced the idea that demographic changes impacting this country (the browning of America) were endangering their privileged position in society. Perhaps, some people simply could not bring themselves to vote for an African American/South Asian woman to be president of the United States. Whatever their reasons were for voting for Donald Trump, there may be some unanticipated consequences of their electoral choice.
In the biblical story found in I Samuel 8, the people of ancient Israel asked the prophet Samuel to appoint an earthly king to rule over them. Though Samuel protested that idea, God told Samuel to proceed, with the provision that Samuel warn the people what the consequences would be of their decision. The king would enrich himself in ways the people could not imagine at that moment but would discover soon enough.
Similarly, people who voted for Donald Trump may not have considered the long-term consequences of their vote.
When 20% tariffs are imposed on imported goods that Americans use on a daily basis, Trump voters will not be exempted from the price hikes that will occur when businesses pass on to consumers the increased costs of imported goods. When federal regulations are lifted or weakened, and there are fewer guarantees about the safety of food, water, air, medicines, railroads, automobiles, and airports, Trump voters will be impacted by those changes. When 11 million persons are forcibly removed from this country, the tax dollars of Trump voters will help fund what some economists project could be costs in the hundreds of billions of dollars. That does not include increased costs for products and services once the people are removed who disproportionately perform the backbreaking labor that most Americans do not want to perform.
If the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is overturned by the man who has “a concept of a plan,” and if the benefits of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are reduced or eligibilities tightened, Trump voters will feel the devastating health and economic consequences of those actions. If price caps on certain prescription drugs like insulin are removed, Trump voters will pay skyrocketing costs for those lifesaving medicines. If further restrictions are placed on women’s reproductive rights, Trump voters will not be exempted when obstetric and gynecological care is denied or delayed by physicians who are fearful of committing a felony that could result in their losing their medical license and facing a long prison sentence.
The Rev. Marvin A. McMicklePhoto courtesy of the Colgate Rochester (N.Y.) Crozer Divinity School
If Trump sides with Vladimir Putin concerning the war in Ukraine, and if he does not seek a solution to the war in Gaza that considers the just demands of the Palestinian people, the world will not be a safer place. If Trump attempts to pull the United States out of NATO, Western Europe will be endangered by the threat of Russian expansionism. These are just a few of the dangers this country and the entire world will be facing as a result of electing Donald Trump.
We must all be careful whom we vote for, because the negative consequences of our vote may greatly outweigh whatever short-term gains we thought might be coming our way.
The Rev. Marvin A. McMickle is the retired president of the Colgate Rochester (N.Y.) Crozer Divinity School and pastor emeritus of Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland.
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